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INSTRUCTORS:
Mohammed Azhar
Derek C. Manheim
Zihui Ma, Ph.D., F.M.ASCE
Zaid Alajlan, Ph.D.
Purpose and Background
These presentations were recorded at the Geo-Extreme 2025 conference.
Comparative Analysis of Resilience to Extreme Weather in Vulnerable Communities (14 minutes)
This presentation examines how vulnerable communities experience and respond to extreme weather events, with a focus on the effectiveness of risk communication and evacuation readiness. Using survey data from socially vulnerable regions in Mississippi and New York, the study evaluates demographic, socioeconomic, and hazard exposure differences across rural and urban contexts. Findings highlight critical gaps in warning dissemination, trust in official alerts, and perceived access to shelters during emergencies. Despite advances in forecasting technologies, failures in “last-mile” risk communication can lead to significant loss of life and property. The presentation emphasizes the importance of tailoring warning systems to community characteristics such as age, income, digital literacy, and hazard type. Recommendations are provided to improve equitable, community-centered risk communication strategies.
Climate Impacts Analysis of Disaster Debris: Case for F-Gas Emissions from Landfills (15 minutes)
This presentation investigates the hidden climate impacts of disaster-generated debris, focusing on emissions of fluorinated gases (F-gases) from landfill disposal of damaged building materials. A Dynamic Probabilistic Material Flow Analysis (DPMFA) framework is introduced to quantify short-, medium-, and long-term emissions following climate-driven disasters such as hurricanes. The study models debris generation, waste management pathways, and chemical release mechanisms across multiple time scales. Results demonstrate that legacy insulation materials containing high–global warming potential gases can significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions over decades. The analysis also evaluates how sustainable debris management practices, including recycling and material recovery, can reduce long-term climate impacts. The findings underscore the importance of integrating climate considerations into post-disaster waste management planning.
A Socio-behavioral Compartmental Model for Wildfire Response (11 minutes)
This presentation introduces a novel socio-behavioral modeling framework to quantify public awareness and resilience during wildfire events using social media data. Drawing from epidemiological compartmental models, the study categorizes public engagement into susceptible, active, and disengaged groups based on wildfire-related online activity. Twitter (X) data from the 2020 Western U.S. wildfire season are analyzed to capture real-time, geographically distributed public responses. Machine learning topic modeling is used to identify wildfire-relevant discussions, which are then translated into quantitative awareness and resilience indicators. Spatial results reveal strong correlations between wildfire proximity, public engagement, and adaptive behavior. The model demonstrates how social media analytics can support emergency managers in developing more targeted and timely wildfire response strategies.
Enhancing Soil Stability and Wildfire Resilience Using Fungal Mycelium and Agricultural Waste Substrates (11 minutes)
This presentation explores the use of fungal mycelium combined with agricultural waste substrates as a sustainable approach to improving soil stability and wildfire resilience. Laboratory experiments evaluate how different lignocellulosic materials, such as wheat straw, wheat bran, and rice hulls, affect mycelium growth, soil cohesion, and resistance to wind erosion after repeated fire exposure. Results show that substrate composition plays a critical role in mycelium survival, crust formation, and post-fire soil performance. Thermal and microstructural analyses demonstrate that certain mycelium-treated soils maintain integrity even after high-temperature exposure. The findings suggest that bio-based soil treatments can reduce erosion and enhance landscape resilience in fire-prone regions. This approach offers a promising nature-based solution for post-wildfire land rehabilitation.
Benefits and Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of these sessions, you will be able to:
- Explain how demographic and socioeconomic factors influence community resilience and responses to extreme weather events.
- Describe how disaster debris management pathways influence long-term greenhouse gas emissions from landfills.
- Discuss how social media–based behavioral models can enhance situational awareness and decision-making during wildfire events.
- Identify how fungal mycelium and agricultural waste substrates contribute to improved soil stability and wildfire resilience.
Assessment of Learning Outcomes
Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-test assessment (true-false, multiple choice, and/or fill in the blank questions).
Who Should Attend?
- Geotechnical Engineers
- Structural Engineers
- Civil Infrastructure Designers
- Researchers and Academics
- Risk and Resilience Analysts
- Construction and Project Managers
How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs and Receive Your Certificate of Completion
To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short post-test online and receive a passing score of 70% or higher within 1 year of purchasing the course.
How do I convert CEUs to PDHs?
1.0 CEU = 10 PDHs [Example: 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH]